MOTIVATIONS AND OUTCOMES: A BENEFITS BASED STUDY OF HIKERS OF THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL

Preliminary Analysis (Work in Progress)

Barbara Freidt, M.S. Ed.

Eddie Hill, Ph. D.

Marni Goldenberg, Ph. D.

Edwin Gόmez, Ph. D.

Barbara Freidt, M.S. Ed.

Old Dominion University

115 Spong Hall

Norfolk, VA

(757) 683-4881 (phone)

(757) 683-4270 (fax)

June 15, 2008

June 15, 2008

Dear Research Partners,

I would like to thank you all for your assistance in the study Motivations and Outcomes: A Benefits Based Study on Hikers of the Appalachian Trail. Your help in this project was immeasurably important to the study’s response and success! I would like to thank the ATC and, in particular, Laurie Potteiger for reviewing the survey and offering invaluable advice. Likewise, the fourteen trail clubs who participated and whiteblaze.net have my heartfelt gratitude for their support, insight, and assistance in disseminating information about the study. I successfully defended my thesis and received my diploma. Immediately afterwards, I hit the trail in celebration. The fellowship, the actual act of hiking, the scenery, the fresh air and the interaction with nature were all so very rewarding. The trail is such a gift.

Even though the survey link is still posted and data collection is ongoing, I would like to share the information gathered (during the January through March collection period) with you all. This collection period yielded 454 useable surveys. Attached are an executive summary and a copy of my thesis. The executive summary focuses mostly on hiker demographics and trail preferences. I hope that this information may be useful to you in procuring funding and donations for conservation and preservation efforts, in planning service projects, in encouraging friends to hike and in creating dialogue about trail etiquette/preferences. Unlike the executive summary, the thesis focuses on the testing of the means-end theory in the recreation setting, the benefits perceived to be associated with hiking, and the outcomes motivating hikers to trek on the AT. The results and the implications/usefulness of understanding the results for land managers, trail clubs, and recreation programmers using a Benefits Based Approach are discussed in chapters four and five of the thesis. Drs. Hill, Goldenberg, Gόmez and myself hope to publish information from my thesis in several different forums; therefore, it would be appreciated if this information were not reproduced for publication without permission. However, please feel free to share the information with any friends, fellow hikers, or club members.

At the close of data collection, we will write up another executive summary for you all. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email or call me at any time. I would love to hear from you.

Thank you,

Barbara Freidt, M.S. Ed., Lecturer

Department of Exercise Science, Sport, Physical Education and Recreation

Old Dominion University

115 Spong Hall

Norfolk, Va

(757) 683-4881 (phone)

(757) 683-4270 (fax)


Profile of Appalachian Trail Hikers

Executive Summary

This executive summary is based on responses from 454 surveys completed between January 15th 2008 and March 15th 2008 via the internet.

I. Study Purpose

The purpose of this project was to study Appalachian Trail (AT) hikers. Hikers were surveyed about their trail preferences, trail hiking attributes appreciated, trail hiking consequences perceived, trail hiking motivations, and trail hiking benefits perceived. This study identified the types of hikers visiting the AT, the reasons why hikers visit the AT, the perceived benefits of the hiking on the AT, the modes of gathering information, type of accommodation used, maintenance preferences, and trail satisfaction. The results of this study provide land managers with baseline information needed to position the National Scenic Trail relative to other state and local trails, assist in developing a comprehensive plan for acquiring donations to conservation and preservation efforts, aid in developing a marketing plan focused on wise use of the trail, and assist in planning service projects reflecting the preferences of current hikers.

II. Methodology

The participants for this study were hikers of the AT over the age of 18 years who had internet access. Fourteen of the 30 trail maintaining clubs listed on the ATC’s website disseminated information about the study. Additionally, whiteblaze.net and two outdoor equipment stores posted information about the study. Sampling for this study occurred from January 15th to March 15th of 2008. The survey was created using Inquisite, an internet based survey software program. A total of 454 usable surveys were collected. Using SPSS version 15, the survey’s validity and reliability were confirmed using internal and external Confirmatory Factor Analyses.

III. Results

1.Demographics: Of the 454 surveys, 422 hikers provided demographic information. The majority of the hikers surveyed were male (70.1%), meaning 29.9% of the hikers surveyed were female. In terms of marital status, married people (59.5%) represented the largest group of participants. Nearly 63% of respondents ranged between 41 and 65 years of age. A majority of respondents (N=394) reported household incomes; the most common income bracket was from 40,000-80,000 dollars. Eighteen percent reported household incomes of less than 40,000 dollars, 36.8% earned between 40,001 and 80,000 dollars, 25.4% earned between 80,001 and 120,000 dollars and 14.2% indicated earning more than 120,000 dollars. The vast majority held a baccalaureate degree or higher (72.8%), while less than 1% indicated not having a high school diploma. The racial and ethnic background of the respondents consisted mostly of Caucasians (94.3%); 3.1% declined to answer and all other racial and ethnic backgrounds totaled less than 1% each, with no one indicating African American/Black heritage.

  1. Type of Hiker: Of the 454 hikers, 34.6% identified themselves as section hikers, 26.2% as day hikers, 16.5% as multi-use hikers, 13.0% as thru-hikers, and 9.7% as overnight hikers.
  1. Trail Travel:33.7% of hikers choose where to hike based on the attributes of that section of the trail, 29.1% are continuing to hike from where they left off, 22.9% of hikers choose where to hike on the AT based primarily on convenience, 10.8% began their hike at designated stop/start areas of the AT, 3.5% are hiking areas based on difficulty of the terrain. Most (62.3%) participants reported that they hiked in variable directions, while 33.4% indicated that they hiked primarily northbound and 5.3% hiked primarily southbound in direction.
  1. Trail Shelter:Most (64.7%) participants indicated that they preferred to use a tent, 21.3% indicated that using a tent was somewhat, moderately or very much not like them and 14% indicated that using a tent was never preferred/applicable to them. Conversely, 47.9% of participants indicated that they preferred use of shelters while 36.5% indicated that they did not prefer to use the shelters and 15.6% indicated that the use of shelters was never like them/applicable. The majority of participants (59.7%) indicated that the addition of more shelters on the AT was either somewhat, moderately or very not like them. Additionally, 70.4% of participants indicated that they were satisfied with the condition of the current shelters, and 74.4% indicated that they were satisfied with the spacing of the current shelters. However, the majority of respondents (65.2%) indicated that they would prefer for shelters to have bear cables/boxes. The majority of respondents (53.1%) indicated that they preferred more campsites; 32.2% indicated that the addition of more campsites was somewhat, moderately or very much not like them while 14.7% chose never/not applicable.
  1. Trail Privies: The majority (51.2%) of hikers indicated that the addition of more privies along the trail was somewhat, moderately or very much not preferred by them; 36% indicated that the addition of more privies was somewhat, moderately or very much preferred. 12.8% of hikers chose never/not applicable.
  1. Trail Trash: With respect to the addition of more trash receptacles along the AT, 40.8% indicated this preference was somewhat, moderately or very much not like them, while 36.5% of hikers indicated that they preferred the addition and 22.7% chose never/not applicable.

7.Trail Dogs:The majority (60.4%) of respondents indicated that they preferred that hikers who brought dogs with them kept their dog/s leashed at all times; furthermore, 49.3% of respondents indicated that they preferred that dogs were not allowed on the AT.

  1. Trail Preferences: The vast majority (84.8%) of hikers indicated that they also walked scenic side trails. Additionally, a vast majority (80.6%) indicated that they preferred to walk on well-maintained trails. Likewise, an overwhelming majority of respondents (96.2%) indicated that overall they were satisfied with the current maintenance of the AT.

9.Trail Club and ATC Website Usage: Only about 12% of the respondents noted never visiting the ATC’s website, more than 64% visited the website less than once a month and about 23% indicated visiting the site once a month or more. However, less than 1% indicated that they visited the ATC’s website daily. About 34% of respondents indicated never visiting a trail club website, while 28.2% indicated visiting a trail club website less than once a month and 38.3% indicated visiting a trail club website once a month or more with 5% of respondents saying that they visited a trail club website daily.

10.AT Introductory Information: When asked how the hikers first heard of the AT respondents (N=98) indicated the following: Boy/Girl Scouts of America programs (27%), due to their proximity to the trail (13%), from other hikers and/or from hiking clubs (12%), from a childhood experience (12%), from signage for the AT (10%), while in school (7%), and from friends and family (3%). Some respondents (5%) indicated that they could not remember how they first heard about the AT.

  1. Trail Club Service Projects: While 54.6% indicated that they never participated in a trail club service project, 30.4% indicated that they participated in 1-3 service projects and 15% indicated participation in more than 3 service projects a year.
  1. Trail Hiking Benefits: Using internal and external confirmatory factor analyses the scale (survey) was shown to be a valid and reliable measure of perceived hiking benefits. This scale used the three types of recreation benefits described by Driver: the improved condition, the prevention of a worse condition and the realization of a psychological experience. The data indicated no statistically significant differences amongst hiker types (day hikers, overnight hikers, section hikers, thru-hikers, and multi-use hikers) and perceived preventative and psychological benefits of hiking. However, statistically significant differences existed between day hikers and section hikers, day hikers and thru-hikers, and multi-use hikers and thru-hikers with respect to respective mean scores for the improved condition subscale.
  1. Trail Hiking Attributes: The most appreciated attributes of the AT hiking experience were ranked in the following order: 45.8% for the outdoors, 16.4% for scenic beauty, 15% for the act of hiking, 14.5% for the trail itself, 6.5% for the interactions, and 2% for survival skills. No statistically significant differences among hiker types (day hikers, overnight hikers, section hikers, thru-hikers, and multi-use hikers) and AT hiking experience attributes appreciated were found to exist.
  1. Trail Hiking Consequences: No statistically significant differences between hiker types (i.e., day hikers, overnight hikers, section hikers, thru-hikers, and multi-use hikers) and AT hiking consequences (i.e., physical challenge, peace, spirituality, relaxation, awareness, exercise, health, camaraderie, and environmental awareness) perceived were found.
  1. Trail Hiking Outcomes: No statistically significant differences between hiker types (i.e., day hikers, overnight hikers, section hikers, thru-hikers, and multi-use hikers) and outcomes/motivations for hiking (i.e., overall satisfaction, self-reliance, self-awareness, appreciation of life, self-esteem, self-fulfillment, warm relationships with others, fun and enjoyment of life and transference of consequences to other areas of one’s life) were found.

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